Falstaff Chicago 1941

John Charles Thomas

Here is a rare chance to hear the famous American baritone, John Charles Thomas, as Falstaff. Thomas was best known for his concert work and for his popular recordings, but he also performed on the operatic stage. Met broadcasts have preserved him Barber of Seville, Traviata, Aida and Faust but not in this role. Just under half an hour of the last act of this broadcast from Chicago has survived, and the sound is pretty good for the period.

Broadcast by WGN (AM) and W59C (FM) Chicago, 10-11pm & WOR New York, 11.15-11.45pm (WOR is probably the source here, though the opening announcement shows that this is a later rebroadcast)


Falstaff, part of last act (27 mins)
November 24, 1941
Falstaff – John Charles Thomas
Mistress Ford – Dusolini Gianini
Nanetta – Virginia Haskins
Mistress Page – Herta Glaz
Ford – Hugh Thompson
Fenton – Felix Knight
c.Laszlo Halasz

https://rapidshare.com/files/447834714/1941FalstaffChicago.mp3